Upgraded tool helps consumers find advisers and legal firms
The Equity Release Council has launched its updated member directory during its Later Life Lending Summit, held in collaboration with the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) in Sheffield on Tuesday.
The new directory aims to help consumers find financial advisers or legal firms to guide them through later life lending options.
The council emphasised the importance of considering equity release as part of broader retirement, inheritance, and care plans, making access to the right advice crucial.
The revamped directory, which attracts more than 21,000 unique visitors annually, has been upgraded to better highlight the services offered by council members. These include advice on equity release as well as related areas such as wills, trusts, pensions, and wealth management.
New features include enhanced geographic targeting and the ability for users to specify their preferred method of interaction — whether face-to-face, telephone, or online. To address the needs of an increasingly diverse customer base, the directory now also identifies advisers who can provide services in languages such as Urdu, Spanish, and Arabic.
In addition to adviser and legal services, the directory provides a list of lenders’ contact details and Council associates who can assist businesses considering entering the market.
“The later life lending market is growing and innovating to help the increasing numbers of customers who are looking for support with borrowing in older age,” said Jim Boyd (pictured), chief executive of the Equity Release Council. “We are therefore delighted to launch our revamped members directory which allows our members to better showcase their offering to potential customers.
“Finding the right adviser, at the right time, who can discuss a range of borrowing options and the implications these might have on later life finances is a vital step for customers wishing to access their housing equity. This directory is a stepping-stone to helping people find the type of personalised advice they need.”
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